Any kinds of programs, anything he wanted to do in partnership that would help encourage people to vote.
Proposed section 18 in the tabled bill restricted that massively.
Then the minister came out, and I bring that quote back into play, when everybody reacted and said, “Wait a minute. You're going to handcuff the Chief Electoral Officer that way. You're going to deny him the right to do an important part of his job, which is to motivate Canadians to vote and explain to them why it's important.” All that came up. Then the minister said in terms of the CEO's ability to speak publicly, he can say “anything he wants”.
The amendment speaks to public education and information programs to make the electoral process better known to students at the primary and secondary levels.
I just need to be clear with this. My question, through you, Chair, would be this. Does that limit all their public pronouncements about encouraging people to vote and giving motivation and all those things? Are all those activities limited to just elementary and high school students as opposed to right now they can speak to everybody any time?